The following is the text of the 'Joint Declaration on Peace' also known as 'The Downing Street Declaration'. This declaration was issued on 15 December 1993 by John Major, then British Prime Minister, and Albert Reynolds, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), on behalf of the British and Irish Governments.

The Taoiseach, Mr. Albert Reynolds, TD and the Prime Minister, the
Rt. Hon. John Major MP, acknowledge that the most urgent and important
issue facing the people of Ireland, North and South, and the British and
Irish Governments together, is to remove the conflict, to overcome the
legacy of history and to heal the divisions which have resulted, recognising
the absence of a lasting and satisfactory settlement of relationships between
the peoples of both islands has contributed to continuing tragedy and suffering.
They believe that the development of an agreed framework for peace, which
has been discussed between them since early last year, and which is based
on a number of key principles articulated by the two Governments over the
past 20 years, together with adaptation of other widely accepted principles,
provides the starting point of a peace process designed to culminate in
a political settlement.

The Taoiseach and the Prime Minister are convinced of the inestimable
value to both their peoples, and particularly for the next generation,
of healing divisions in Ireland and of ending a conflict which has been
so manifestly to the detriment of all. Both recognise that the ending of
divisions can come about only through the agreement and co-operation of
the people, North and South, representing both traditions in Ireland. They
therefore make a solemn commitment to promote co-operation at all levels
on the basis of the fundamental principles, undertakings, obligations under
international agreements, to which they have jointly committed themselves,
and the guarantees which each Government has given and now reaffirms, including
Northern Ireland's statutory constitutional guarantee. It is their aim
to foster agreement and reconciliation, leading to a new political framework
founded on consent and encompassing arrangements within Northern Ireland,
for the whole island, and between these islands.

They also consider that the development of Europe will, of itself,
require new approaches to serve interests common to both parts of the island
of Ireland, and to Ireland and the United Kingdom as partners in the European
Union.

The Prime Minister, on behalf of the British Government, reaffirms
that they will uphold the democratic wish of the greater number of the
people of Northern Ireland on the issue of whether they prefer to support
the Union or a sovereign united Ireland. On this basis, he reiterates,
on the behalf of the British Government, that they have no selfish strategic
or economic interest in Northern Ireland. Their primary interest is to
see peace, stability and reconciliation established by agreement among
all the people inhabit the island, and they will work together with the
Irish Government to achieve such an agreement, which will embrace the totality
of relationships. The role of the British Government will be to encourage,
facilitate and enable the achievement of such agreement over a period through
a process of dialogue and co-operation based on full respect for the rights
and identities of both traditions in Ireland. They accept that such agreement
may, as of right, take the form of agreed structures for the island as
a whole, including a united Ireland achieved by peaceful means on the following
basis. The British Government agree that it is for the people of the island
of Ireland alone, by agreement between the two parts respectively, to exercise
their right of self-determination on the basis of consent, freely and concurrently
given, North and South, to bring about a united Ireland, if that is their
wish. They reaffirm as a binding obligation that they will, for their part,
introduce the necessary legislation to give effect to this, or equally
to any measure of agreement on future relationships in Ireland which the
people living in Ireland may themselves freely so determine without external
impediment. They believe that the people of Britain would wish, in friendship
to all sides, to enable the people of Ireland to reach agreement on how
they may live together in harmony and in partnership, with respect for
their diverse traditions, and with full recognition of the special links
and the unique relationship which exist between the peoples of Britain
and Ireland.

The Taoiseach, on behalf of the Irish Government, considers
that the lessons of Irish history, and especially of Northern Ireland,
show that stability and well-being will not be found under any political
system which is refused allegiance or rejected on grounds of identity by
a significant minority of those governed by it. For this reason, it would
be wrong to attempt to impose a united Ireland, in the absence of the freely
given consent of the majority of the people of Northern Ireland. He accepts,
on behalf of the Irish Government, that the democratic right of self-determination
by the people of Ireland as a whole must be achieved and exercised with
and subject to the agreement and consent of a majority of the people of
Northern Ireland and must, consistent with justice and equity, respect
the democratic dignity and the civil rights and religious liberties of
both communities, including:

the right of free political thought;

the right of freedom and expression of religion;

the right to pursue democratically national and political aspirations;

the right to seek constitutional change by peaceful and legitimate means;

the right to live wherever one chooses without hindrance;

the right to equal opportunity in all social and economic activity, regardless of class, creed, sex or colour.

These would be reflected in any future political and constitutional arrangements emerging from a new and more broadly based agreement.

The Taoiseach however recognises the genuine difficulties and barriers
to building relationships of trust either within or beyond Northern Ireland,
from which both traditions suffer. He will work to create a new era of
trust, in which suspicion of the motives and actions of others is removed
on the part of either community. He considers that the future of the island
depends on the nature of the relationship between the two main traditions
that inhabit it. Every effort must be made to build a new series of trust
between those communities. In recognition of the fears of the Unionist
community and as a token of his willingness to make a political contribution
to the building up of that necessary trust, the Taoiseach will examine
with his colleagues any elements in the democratic life and organisation
of the Irish State that can be represented to the Irish Government in the
course of political dialogue as a real and substantial threat to their
way of life and ethos, or that can be represented as not being fully consistent
with a modern democratic and pluralist society, and undertakes to examine
any possible ways of removing such obstacles. Such an examination would
of course have due regard to the desire to preserve those inherited values
that are largely shared throughout the island or that belong to the cultural
and historical roots of the people of this island in all their diversity.
The Taoiseach hopes that over time a meeting of hearts and minds will develop,
which will bring all the people of Ireland together, and will work towards
that objective, but he pledges in the meantime that as a result of the
efforts that will be made to build mutual confidence no Northern Unionist
should ever have a fear in future that this ideal will be pursued either
by threat or coercion.

Both Governments accept that Irish unity would be achieved only by
those who favour this outcome persuading those who do not, peacefully and
without coercion or violence, and that, if in the future a majority of
the people of Northern Ireland are so persuaded, both Governments will
support and give legislative effect to their wish. But, notwithstanding
the solemn affirmation by both Governments in the Anglo-Irish Agreement
that any change in the status of Northern Ireland, would only come about
with a consent of the majority of the people of Northern Ireland,the Taoiseach
also recognises the continuing uncertainties and misgivings which dominate
so much of Northern Unionist attitudes towards the rest of Ireland. He
believes that we stand at a stage of our history when the genuine feelings
of all traditions in the North must be recognised and acknowledged. He
appeals to both traditions at this time to grasp the opportunity for a
fresh start and a new beginning, which could hold such promise for all
our lives and the generations to come. He asks the people of Northern Ireland
to look on the people of the Republic as friends, who share their grief
and shame over all the suffering of the last quarter of a century, and
who wants to develop the best possible relationship with them, a relationship
in which trust and new understanding can flourish and grow. The Taoiseach
also acknowledges the presence in the Constitution of the Republic of elements which are deeply resented by Northern Unionists,
but which at the same time reflect hopes and ideals which lie deep in the
hearts of many Irish men and women North and South. But as we move towards
a new era of understanding in new relationships of trust may grow and bring
peace to the island of Ireland, the Taoiseach believes that the time has
come to consider together how best the hopes and identities of all can
be expressed in more balanced ways, which no longer engender division and
the lack of trust to which he has referred. He confirms that, in the event
of an overall settlement, the Irish Government will, as part of a balanced
constitutional accommodation, put forward and support proposals for change
in the Irish
Constitution which would fully reflect the principle of consent in
Northern Ireland.

The Taoiseach recognises the need to engage in dialogue which would
address the honesty and integrity the fears of all traditions. But that
dialogue, both within the North and between the people and their representatives
of both parts of Ireland, must be entered into with an acknowledgment that
the future security and welfare of the people of the island will depend
on an open, frank and balanced approach to all the problems which for too
long have caused division.

The British and Irish Governments will seek, along with the Northern
Ireland constitutional parties through a process of political dialogue,
to create institutions and structures which, while respecting the diversity
of the people of Ireland, would enable them to work together in all areas
of common interest. This will help over a period to build the trust necessary
to end past divisions, leading to an agreed and peaceful future. Such structures
would, of course, include institutional recognition of the special links
that exist between the peoples of Britain and Ireland as part of the totality
of relationships, while taking account of newly forged links with the rest
of Europe.

The British and Irish Governments reiterate that the achievement of
peace must involve a permanent end to the use of, or support for, paramilitary
violence. They confirm that, in these circumstances, democratically mandated
parties which establish a commitment to exclusively peaceful methods and
which have shown that they abide by the democratic process, are free to
participate fully in democratic politics and to join in dialogue in due
course between the Governments and the political parties on the way ahead.

The Irish Government would make their own arrangements within their
jurisdiction to enable democratic parties to consult together and share
in dialogue about the political future. The Taoiseach's intention is that
these arrangements could include the establishment, in consultation with
other parties, of a Forum for Peace and Reconciliation to make recommendations
on ways in which agreement and trust between both traditions can be promoted
and established.

The Taoiseach and the Prime Minister are determined to build on the
fervent wish of both their peoples to see old fears and anomalies replaced
by a climate of peace. They believe the framework they have set out offers
the people of Ireland, North and South, whatever their tradition, the basis
to agree that from now on their differences can be negotiated and resolved
exclusively by peaceful political means. They appeal to all concerned to
grasp the opportunity for a new departure. That step would compromise no
position or principle, nor prejudice the future of either community. On
the contrary, it would be an incomparable gain for all. It would break
decisively the cycle of violence and the intolerable suffering it entails
for the people of these islands, particularly for both communities in Northern
Ireland. It would allow the process of economic and social co-operation
on the island to realise its full potential for prosperity and mutual understanding.
It would transform the prospects for building on the progress already made
in the Talks process, involving the two Governments and the constitutional
parties in Northern Ireland. The Taoiseach and the Prime Minister believe
that these arrangements offer an opportunity to lay the foundation for
a more peaceful and harmonious future, devoid of the violence and bitter
divisions which have scarred the past generation. They commit themselves
and their Governments to continue to work together, unremittingly, towards
that objective.